At Manchester High School, 9 A.M. Is Time For The TV News

Students Put Together Daily Broadcast

Manchester High School student Luis Gonzalez, operates one of three cameras… (MARK MIRKO | mmirko@courant.com )

February 13, 2013|By MICHAEL WALSH, Special to The Courant, The Hartford Courant

It isn't a typical morning at high school for Lily Zappulla, one of two directors of Manchester High School's morning news program.

"Three, two, one…cue anchors," Zappulla, a 16-year-old junior, instructs her floor manager. The daily Manchester High School morning news is about to go live.

For the 15 students involved in the broadcast, the time they spend preparing and executing their morning news roles is about passion.

"We put a lot our heart and soul each morning into doing these announcements," Zappulla said. "The majority of Manchester High really appreciates them."

Either Zappulla or Co-Director Sarah Bushnell arrives at school at 7 a.m., a half hour earlier than the first class of the day, to write that morning's script. It includes that day's lunch menu, important deadlines, upcoming meetings and an assortment of events.

"We're kind of like the hub of Manchester High," Zappulla said. "We say what's going on and we inform the students."

At 8:45 a.m., the morning news team, dismissed early from their individual classes, begins to arrive in the school's television studio. After 10 minutes of preparation, the 9 a.m. bell rings and it's show time for anchors Sarah McKay and Bryan Frankovitch.

"It's nerve-racking, but it's rewarding at the same time," said McKay, a 16-year-old junior. "I look forward to coming here."

The life of a high school morning news anchor even has its own "celebrity moments."

McKay said fellow students she didn't know have stopped her and jokingly asked for her autograph. Another student recognized her face while she was working.

Frankovitch once got a greeting from an unfamiliar group of students, but he said he kept walking because he didn't think they'd noticed him.

In January, the team placed second in a national contest for high school morning news programs run by Vbrick Systems Inc.

"It's just constantly growing and becoming better," said instructor Eric Larson. "You can't get worse as long as you have at it."

For team members like Zappulla and McKay, working with other students has been a new experience.

"Even though these are all of my best friends, you have to kind of find the balance of directing them and at the same time keeping a friendly atmosphere," Zappulla said. "The happier the people, the better the show comes out."

McKay agreed, saying that the post-show critique and review sessions they do are key to becoming better.

"You have to be able to tell your friends what's wrong with it without them getting offended," McKay said. "Sometimes it doesn't work out and they'll get a little angry because we all put our emotions into this."

Larson said the16- and 17-year-olds are trying to master things that adults have trouble with.

"It's pretty cool to stand back as an instructor," Larson said. "Being able to separate friendship in an employment place — that's not easy. You're there to get a job done."

All of the students involved in the program, handpicked by Larson, aren't earning extra credit or completing requirements for a class.

"This is a really great experience," said Brooke Freeman, a 17-year-old senior. "What we do here is what they're going to teach us in college, so we already have a huge head start. It's really great to know this stuff so early.

Emma Doherty, a 17-year-old senior working the graphics control station, said while she isn't tech-savvy, her experience helps her with her journalism education.

At 9:10 a.m., the credits roll and a wrap is put on that morning's broadcast. After a quick review meeting, the 15 students return to their classrooms.